Is Internet Important to Economic Development?

  The World Bank says 9 billion electronic devices are connected to the Internet today. But the bank says more than half of the world’s population is still not connected.  Technologists and government officials say getting connected to the Internet is critical to improving the lives of millions of people.  Joe Mucheru is Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology. He says technology is good for business. “We have got huge fights in terms of corruption, transparency, openness - and technology is really the vehicle we’re using to ensure that whatever transactions are taking place, you can see them. They’re digital.” But there are still many areas without Internet connections. That is what Hilton Romanski says. He is the Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for the technology company Cisco. “Obviously we look at Africa, we look at Southeast Asia; there are large swaths obviously of the population that are not connected.” Denis O’Brien is chairman of Digicel, a mobile telephone service. He says once people start using smartphones, they talk less and use more computer data, for text messages, pictures and video. This makes for high-speed service or broadband a requirement for nearly all users. O’Brien said building the telecommunications infrastructure in developing areas is difficult but needed for economic growth. “Everybody’s built the easy bit, in other words they’ve done the towns and the cities, but going into rural communities they haven’t done it because the business case is very thin.”  Technology experts say businesses and governments need to come together to bring the Internet to developing areas to drive economic growth. O’Brien says broadband is not a secondary need. “Any country that wants to create investment and be a location for investment to create employment, the first thing you need is broadband.” Is technology the answer? But others do not think technology is a cure-all for economic growth. Kentaro Toyama is Associate Professor of Community Information at the University of Michigan. He has a warning for developing nations that see modern technology as the solution for economic growth. Toyama says the world has changed over the past 45 years because of developments in technology. But all this digital innovation did not reduce differences between rich and poor people in the United States. ”During that same span of time, this country has experienced rising inequality. The median income has declined.” He adds that, in developing nations, a smartphone alone will not help people who are uneducated and lack technological skills. ”If they do have a mobile phone, people, for example, who are physical laborers on farms where it doesn’t make too much of a difference if you can have access to the latest agronomic research paper as a way to improve your farming.” Denis O’Brien disagrees. “Once you get broadband, you can educate people. You can create jobs for people, and people from an agricultural point of view become much more efficient.” He also pointed to cultural differences in each country.  Joe Mucheru sees the issue as many Kenyans do. “The fact that maybe some of the people in the West haven’t come out of poverty because they have not used their devices well is not the same for Africa.”   Cisco’s Hilton Romanski says it takes cooperation between private, government and non-profit groups to make technology effective. “It’s going to take all the parties coming together to drive the right cultural shift and the right education into these countries so that the developing market can over the long term enjoy the benefits of economic growth.” The experts do agreed that good things can happen if education about technology is combined with the right policies. I’m Mario Ritter.   Elizabeth Lee reported this story for VOANews.com. Mario Ritter adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Do you think Internet access is necessary for development? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   critical – adj. very important or necessary strategy – n. a long term plan infrastructure – n. important physical structures like roads, bridges, and power plants that are needed for a society to operate broadband – n. a wireless communications network that provides Internet access innovation – n. a new idea, device or method savvy – adj. practical understanding or knowledge of something agronomic – adj. having to do with the science of producing plants

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1RGBLxU
via IFTTT

Activists Predict Immigrant Crisis if Britain Stays in EU

Some activists are warning that at least a million Turkish immigrants will enter the UK if Britain remains in the European Union (EU). They claim Turkey is on a course to join the EU; therefore, its citizens will be able to move freely to Britain. Activists say the immigrants could include “murderers, terrorists and kidnappers.” The activists are part of the “Vote Leave” movement. They want Britain to withdraw from the EU when citizens vote on the issue next month. However, the “Vote Leave” movement is narrowly behind in current polls. Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, is trying to rally support for Britain to leave the EU. “We want our borders back, we want our passports back, we want our country back," he said. "And if everyone that agrees with us goes out to vote on June 23, we will make it UK Independence Day.” Prime Minister David Cameron has criticized the position of the activists. He has called leaving the EU the “self-destruct option.” He said withdrawing could cause recession and could eliminate half a million jobs. Cameron also addressed the issue of Turkish immigrants. He said the process of Turkey joining the EU will take many years. He added that Britain would be able to veto Turkey’s membership. Turkey began negotiations to get EU membership in 2005, but has not been approved. EU expert Damian Chalmers, from the London School of Economics, said negotiations between Turkey and the EU are progressing very slowly. A deal would require agreement on 53 different policy areas. The debate comes as the EU and Turkey try to finalize a deal to stop the flow of migrants from Turkey to Greece. Turkey agreed in March to take refugees back from Europe, partly in return for moving forward its bid to join the EU. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Henry Ridgwell reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bryan Lynn adapted it for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. We want to hear from you. Do you think Britain should remain in the European Union? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   course – n. the way something progresses or develops rally – v. to bring people together for a common purpose self-destruct – v. to destroy itself eliminate – adj. to completely remove or get rid of something bid – n. an attempt or effort to achieve something  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/25wNV9E
via IFTTT

WHO: 80% of Urban Residents Breathe Unsafe Air

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. A new study finds that more than 80 percent of people living in cities are breathing unsafe air. The World Health Organization study on urban air quality says those most affected live in the world's poorest cities. The study finds urban air pollution has nearly doubled in 3,000 cities over the past two years. The cities are in 103 countries. The study also shows that almost all cities with populations over 100,000, and in developing countries, have air pollution levels that do not meet WHO guidelines. The WHO warns that as air quality worsens the risk increases for many diseases. These include stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and breathing diseases such as asthma. Poor air quality is also responsible for an estimated seven million premature deaths every year. Flavia Bustreo is WHO Assistant-Director General of Family, Women and Children's Health. In the report, she says that dirty air in cities most affects the youngest, oldest, and poorest people. However, her colleague, Maria Neira, says there are effective measures to deal with the problem. Neira leads the WHO’s Public Health and Environmental Policy. "You will see that in those cities where measures have been put in place, you can see a decrease on the levels of air pollution and, therefore, on the health risks caused by air pollution." Neira agrees in the report that "urban air pollution continues to rise at an alarming rate” and severely affects human health. But she says the study shows improvements too. In her words, "awareness is rising and more cities are monitoring their air quality." This includes increased monitoring of particulate matter in the air. "Particulate matter," also known as particle pollution, is a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets. Particulate matter is made up of a number of parts, including acids, organic chemicals, metals, and soil or dust. The WHO study finds a reduction in air pollutants could lessen deaths from particulate matter by 15 percent. Carlos Dora is Coordinator of WHO's Department of Public Health and Environmental Policy. He says there are low-cost ways to improve air quality for even the poorest cities. These methods include using renewable power sources, such as solar and wind, and sustainable public transportation. "If you have clean transportation means, like cycling, walking or rapid transit systems -- where you have a lot of people being carried with a few vehicles -- then you have less air pollution. Or, if you have cities like New York, which have cleaned the fuel to heat and cool the buildings in a major way … then you have important improvements in air pollution." The report says the areas with the poorest air quality are in the Eastern Mediterranean and South East Asia. I’m Anna Matteo. Lisa Schlein reported this story from WHO headquarters in Geneva for VOA News. Anna Matteo adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   urban – adj. of or relating to cities and the people who live in them stroke – n. a serious illness caused when a blood vessel in your brain suddenly breaks or is blocked premature – adj. happening too soon or earlier than usual colleague – n. a person who works with you : a fellow worker monitor – v. to watch, observe, listen to, or check (something) for a special purpose over a period of time renewable – adj. able to be extended for another time period : able to be renewed  : restored or replaced by natural processes : able to be replaced by nature sustainable – adj. able to be used without being completely used up or destroyed : involving methods that do not completely use up or destroy natural resources : able to last or continue for a long time rapid – adj. moving quickly

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1UpvXNT
via IFTTT

Sanctions on North Korea Affect a Private University

Pyongyang University of Science and Technology is North Korea’s first privately funded university. It opened in 2010. But, the head of the school says the university is facing financial difficulties because of international sanctions against North Korea. Chan-Mo Park is the university’s chancellor. He is a former computer science professor at the University of Maryland and a U.S. citizen who was born in South Korea. He told VOA on Wednesday, “We want to recruit South Korean professors, but the May 24 measure blocks it.” He was referring to trade and exchange sanctions South Korea made against North Korea on May 24, 2010. The sanctions came after South Korea accused the North of sinking one of its naval boats and claiming the lives of 46 sailors. North Korea’s nuclear and missile tests earlier this year have further isolated the country. In March, a United Nations Security Council resolution placed further restrictions on North Korea’s financial activity. The school chancellor says that despite international tensions, the university is growing. It is largely supported by Western-based Evangelical Christians. It currently hosts about 500 enrolled students and 100 professors. Some are U.S. citizens. Park says the school offers North Korean students rare opportunities to engage with Western-trained scientists. “We were doing a virtual reality class and some students turned in materials about American hip hop music for their homework,” said Park. He described students as eager to learn about the outside world. Critics argue the institution could help the North Korean government further develop nuclear technology. Park said this is not the case. He said the school’s curriculum meets U.S. regulations. I’m Mario Ritter.   Ham Jiha reported this story for VOANews.com. Mario Ritter adapted the report for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story recruit – v. to find the right person to fill a position, job or place in a class Isolated – adj. apart from others, alone virtual reality – n. meaning images, sounds and experiences created by a computer that are meant to appear as an artificial world hip hop – n. rap music curriculum – n. the classes taught by a school, college or university

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/25wNH2v
via IFTTT

India’s Taj Mahal Has Insect Problem

India’s world-famous Taj Mahal is facing a new threat: insect poop. The Yamuna River flows around the Taj Mahal, and the river is heavily polluted. Large numbers of insects are breeding in the polluted waterway. Officials say the insects land on the Taj Mahal and leave poop behind on its white stone walls. The insects’ droppings are beginning to turn the walls green. Bhuvan Vikram is the top official at the Archeological Survey of India in the city of Agra, home of the famous building. He told VOA that, “During the evening time, [the insects] get attracted towards the white [surfaces] and during the night they stay over there and leave those green deposits.” Workers try to remove the insects’ waste. But experts fear heavy cleaning could damage the artwork in the Taj Mahal. Vikram said workers first discovered the problem last year. But they identified the cause of the problem only recently. A fly known as the genus Geoldichironomus is the insect responsible for all the droppings. Those insects survive best in the hot weather and in the algae along the sides of the river. The city of Agra is home to many people and lots of industry.  Environmentalists have struggled for years to protect the Taj Mahal’s white stone from turning yellow because of air pollution. Air pollution levels dropped after coal-based power centers and some polluting industries were closed. But the waters of the Yamuna River have yet to improve. Environmental campaigners like D.K. Joshi say the way to stop this new threat is to save the dying river. He has presented his argument to the National Green Tribunal, an environmental court. Joshi says waste from 52 open drains in the city is poisoning the river. “Industrial waste, solid waste, all this empties into the river. Millions of dollars have been spent to clean the river, but nothing has happened,” he added. Experts say ash particles from burnt human remains are part of the problem. For 200 years, people have set fire to dead bodies near the Taj Mahal. The fires are part of funeral ceremonies for the dead. Ash from the burnt remains is the main source of food for the insects. Six months ago, the Supreme Court asked city officials to move the funeral area. There was concern that smoke from the fires was affecting the color of the white stone surfaces. But the move has still not happened. Now city officials are asking people to try more environmentally-friendly funeral customs because of protests from a Hindu group. Joshi believes cleaning the Yamuna River is possible with a short-term program. “Stop the [waste] from going into the river, improve its flow. It is not difficult, but the will power is not there,” he said. Vikram hopes this latest threat to the Taj Mahal from insects will get the attention of city officials. He hopes it will get them to clean the river. But he also worries about the large amount of pressure the rise of tourism puts on the Taj Mahal. Six million people visited the world-famous structure in 2014. “So much is the amount of dirt that it creates, these are the [problems] of tourism. The tourists, they like to touch the surfaces. For that we are trying to provide some kind of separators,” Vikram said. I’m Pete Musto.   Anjana Pasricha wrote this story for VOANews.com. Pete Musto adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Now it’s your turn. How do does the government protect famous places tourists like to visit in your country? How does the changing environment affect those places? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   poop – n. solid waste passed out of the body breed(ing) – v. to produce offspring by sexual reproduction attracted – adj. caused to go to or move to or toward a place deposit(s) – n. an amount of something such as sand, snow, or mud that has formed or been left on a surface or area over a period of time fly – n. a small insect that has two wings genus – n. a group of related animals or plants that includes several or many different species algae – n. simple plants that have no leaves or stems and that grow in or near water environmentalist(s) – n. a person who works to protect the natural world from pollution and other threats drain(s) – n. something such as a pipe that is used for removing a liquid from a place or container tourism – n. the activity of traveling to a place for pleasure

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1Upw4c0
via IFTTT

Women Pilots Allowed Back Into Arlington for Burial

Women World War II pilots are again guaranteed full burial honors at Arlington National Cemetery. That is because the two main U.S. political parties put their differences aside to change the policy that had blocked the women’s burial at Arlington. Both houses of Congress approved a bill to permit inurnment of the remains at the cemetery, just outside Washington, D.C. President Barack Obama signed it into law on May 20. The government once had a policy that gave the former Women Airforce Service Pilots, known as WASP, rights to be buried at Arlington. But that policy was canceled in 2015.  The new law gives women who flew during World War II the right to be inurned in the nation’s highest honor military cemetery. Inurnment means their ashes can be laid to rest there. "The Women Airforce Service Pilots courageously answered their country's call in a time of need,” President Obama said, when signing the bill into law. “[They blazed] a trail for the brave women who have given and continue to give so much in service to this nation since." The issue was personal for Tiffany Miller and her sisters. Their grandmother, Lieutenant Elaine Danforth Harmon, had been a WASP pilot. They said she wanted to be buried at Arlington Cemetery. So they started an online campaign to give her the burial she wanted. “It was her last wish to be in Arlington," Miller told CNN. "We haven't been able to hold a funeral for her because we wanted to honor that wish." Harmon died in April at age 95. The issue also was personal for Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski. She knew Harmon, who had lived in Maryland. Mikulski, a member of the Democratic Party, worked with Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican, to quickly move the bill through Congress. Mikulski said she proposed the legislation “to honor the service and sacrifice of WASP in defending our freedom.” She said, “if they were good enough to fly for our country … they should be good enough for Arlington.” Back in 2009, Mikulski proposed a bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the WASP. Congress presents the gold medal for exceptional acts of service to the United States or for lifetime achievement. The women pilots received the award in March 2010. But since the beginning of the WASP program, those women struggled to be considered military veterans. The program lasted two years -- from 1942-1944 – and just over 1,000 women served in it. Of those, 38 died in service -- 11 in training and 27 during military operations. Noncombat missions The women pilots did not fly in actual battles, but took part in non- combat duties across the country. They trained male pilots on how to operate aircraft. They also towed targets for live-ammunition air-to-air gunnery training. But the female pilots also faced bias against women serving in nontraditional positions. They were considered civilians throughout their wartime service. "If a girl got killed, her parents didn't get anything, not even a flag -- nothing," WASP Barbara Erickson London told CBS News in 2014. "Not even any acknowledgement that their daughter had been in the military."    The women pilots were finally given veteran status in 1977. In 2002, Arlington Cemetery said the women could have their ashes buried there with military honors. But that policy changed in 2015 when then-Army Secretary John McHugh wrote that the cemetery did not have the ability to permit such inurnments. The Army also noted space restrictions at the cemetery. Arlington cemetery Arlington National Cemetery, founded in 1866, is a military cemetery located across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. More than 300,000 veterans of every American conflict, from the Revolutionary War to Iraq and Afghanistan are buried there. But with less space, the cemetery now has strict rules for ground burials. Most active duty members of the Armed Forces, and any veteran retired from active service, can be buried in Arlington. And now, Mikulski said in a statement, the WASP “can once and for all be laid to rest alongside our nation’s patriots at Arlington National Cemetery.” I’m Anne Ball.   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section and visit us on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   inurnment – n. the placement of ashes, cremated remains, in an urn for burial blaze –  v.  to move very quickly online – adj. relating to the internet achievement – n. a result gained by effort combat – adj. engaging in battle tow - v. to carry something behind a vehicle bias – n. prejudice, a personal and unreasoned judgment against someone strict – adj. careful obeying of the rules  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1WTLyso
via IFTTT

Memorial Day: Arlington National Cemetery

Memorial Day is a national holiday observed in the United States on the last Monday in May. It is the day when Americans honor the women and men who have served in the military. The Memorial Day holiday was first observed in 1868. The holiday was called Decoration Day. The observance was at what was then known as the National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. It is now known as Arlington National Cemetery. More than four million people visit the cemetery every year. It is the most famous national burial place in the United States. It includes about 250 hectares of rolling hills, and trees that were planted hundreds of years ago. There are more than 8,000 trees of 300 species in the cemetery. Up and down the hills are lines of simple white headstones marking the graves. About 400 of the markers have gold letters on them. These are the burial places of those who have been awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military honor. Among those buried at the cemetery are military and political leaders, cabinet officers and Supreme Court justices. Astronauts, explorers and athletes are also buried there. So are chaplains, nurses, slaves and even war correspondents. Arlington is on the land that once belonged to George Washington Parke Custis, a step-grandson of George Washington. The cemetery holds the graves of soldiers who died in every war in American history. Some who fought and died in the Revolutionary War in the 1700s were moved there from a nearby cemetery. The first military burial was on May 13, 1864 for Private William Christman, who died in the Civil War. On May 15, 1864, two unknown Union Soldiers were buried at Arlington. They were the first of almost 5,000 unknowns who are now buried at the cemetery. On March 4, 1921, Congress approved the burial of an unidentified American soldier from World War I. It is now the site of the famed Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Nearly 4,000 former slaves are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. One of them is James Parks. He dug the first graves in the cemetery. And he is the only person buried there who was also born on the property. Two American presidents are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. William Howard Taft was president in the early 1900s. John F. Kennedy was president in the 1960s. More people have visited his grave than any other in the United States. Other famous people buried at the cemetery include Joe Louis. He was an Army sergeant in World War II. He was a world champion boxer. Robert E. Peary discovered the North Pole. Dr. Anita Newcomb McGee founded the Army Nurse Corps. And the remains of the seven astronauts who died when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded are buried in Section 46. Sixty-five foreigners are also buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Britain has the most, with 26. South Vietnam has 10, including nine unknown soldiers. Not everyone who gave military service to the United States may be buried at the cemetery. Those who can be buried there include anyone who died while serving on active duty or who retired from military. Also eligible are those who received high military awards, including the Medal of Honor, those who were injured in combat and former prisoners of war. Some federal government officials and the spouse and children of those buried at Arlington may also be eligible. There is no cost for the burial or funeral service. Cemetery officials are worried that they will soon run out of space. So they have added an area where the ashes of people who chose to be cremated rather than buried can be placed. There are tens of thousands of spaces in the building, which is called a columbarium. The cemetery is also expanding by almost 11 hectares. This will add almost 30,000 burial places. Since 1948, on the Thursday before Memorial Day, soldiers from the 3rd US Infantry, The Old Guard, have placed small American flags in front of every headstone in the cemetery. This year, more than a thousand Old Guard soldiers placed more than 220,000 flags in front of each grave marker “to honor every individual buried at Arlington National Cemetery.” Some of the Old Guard soldiers placed flags in front of the graves of soldiers they knew, in Section 60. Some have called it “the saddest place in America.” It is where some of the soldiers who died in America’s latest wars -- in Iraq and Afghanistan -- are buried. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   Shelley Gollust and Christopher Jones-Cruise wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   species – n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants eligible – adj. able to be chosen for something; able to do or receive something columbarium – n. a building or area where urns holding a deceased’s cremated remains are placed How does your country honor those who died in war? We want to hear about it. Write to us in the comments section.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1qVtgJl
via IFTTT

Supreme Court Justice Designs Video Game About Civics

The race to win the White House is not just taking place on the political stage, but also in schools across the country. Like Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, students are competing to become president. But their efforts are playing out in a video game called “Win the White House.” The game is part of a website-based project called iCivics. Civics is the study of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. This project is designed to increase civics teaching in U.S. schools. Teaching civics through video games was the idea of Sandra Day O’Connor, a former member of the U.S. Supreme Court. She launched the iCivics project in 2010. “iCivics has been an effective way to reach young people and to give them an enhanced capacity to have critical thinking of their own.”  In the game “Win the White House,” students act like presidential candidates. They learn how to compete civilly on many difficult issues, including gun control and immigration. iCivics has online educational games, teaching materials and products.  The games deal with the U.S. Constitution and all three branches of government: the Judicial, Legislative and Executive. The website also provides digital tools and lesson plans for teachers and students across the U.S. Sixth-grader Jaylah Williams likes the games. “It teaches students how to prepare for the real world and how to prepare, such as if they want to run for president or any debates in school.” Ariel Bosworth teaches social studies at Future Leaders Institute Charter School in New York City. He also likes the program. “I really have the opportunity to show them how their voice matters and why it matters.  And, I think this, not only the game, but the program, the lessons that go along with it, really do a great job in providing supplementary material for showing them why their voice is important, and why they need to take an active part in civic engagement.” As students play each game, they learn about different parts of government and politics.They also learn about economics at the national, state and local level. But when it comes to video games in the classroom, it is the teacher who makes the difference. That is what Dani McPartlin says. She heads the Future Leaders Institute Charter School. She says that putting a student on a computer alone in front of a program might not have the desired effect. “An online software program is only as good as the teacher teaches into it and is able to make that connection with the students. And when it’s guided by the teacher, they’re more engaged, and they question.” The iCivics project says middle-school social studies teachers and high-school government and history teachers use its software program. It says the program helps students improve their writing ability and knowledge of civics. The organization says the games provide equal benefits for students across gender and race, no matter whether they are rich or poor. That, says Justice O’Connor, is her most important legacy. I’m Anne Ball.   Bernard Shusman wrote this story for VOA News. Anne Ball wrote it for VOA Learning English.  Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit us on our  Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   civil – adj. to act with respect for others supplementary – adj. completing or enhancing something engagement – n. the act of being involved in something gender – n. the state of being male or female legacy – n. something that comes from someone in the past  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1WTLzMY
via IFTTT

WHO Advises Faster, Cheaper Treatment for Tuberculosis

The World Health Organization is proposing a new way to fight the disease multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. WHO officials say the new treatment costs less and is easier to use than other treatments. They also say it could save the lives of tens of thousands of people.  Tuberculosis (TB) mainly affects the lungs. The bacteria that cause the disease can develop resistance to the two most powerful anti-TB drugs. This has led to the development and spread of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. Multi-drug resistant TB infects nearly 500,00 men, women and children every year. Each year, about 190,000 of those who develop this kind of the disease die. WHO officials say the death rate is high because fewer than 20 percent of the patients are getting the right form of treatment. Mario Raviglione is the director of the WHO's global tuberculosis program. He said the new test and treatment program will help people who have multi-drug resistant TB. "These two new recommendations from WHO enable MDR-TB patients one, to benefit from a test that will quickly identify who is eligible for the shorter MDR-TB treatment regimen; and two, complete treatment in half the time at nearly half the cost of today." The new test can show in just 24 to 48 hours whether someone has the disease. The test that is used now may not give results for three months or longer. The shorter treatment program costs less than $1,000 per patient and can be completed in nine to 12 months. Current treatment programs for people with multi-drug resistant TB cost $1,500 to $3,000 and take between 18 and 24 months to complete. Reviglione said that worldwide about 50 percent of those receiving the longer and more-costly treatment are cured. He said those who are not cured either die or can live with the disease for years. He says about one-fourth of patients stop the treatment before it is completed. "They abandon treatment because the treatment lasts, as you probably know, up to two years, with drugs that we all know are fairly toxic in a way. They have side effects and they are not really liked by patients who have to take them." WHO officials said there are about 400 laboratories in developing countries that can use the new test and treatment program. So, officials believe, most people suffering from MDR-TB will be able to be treated using the faster, less-costly method. I’m Marsha James.   Lisa Schlein reported this story from Geneva for VOANews.com. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   tuberculosis – n. a serious disease that mainly affects the lungs resistant – adj. not affected or harmed by something (usually used in combination with another word) recommendation – n. the act of saying that someone or something is good and deserves to be chosen enable – v. to make (someone or something) able to do or to be something eligible – adj. able to be chosen for something; able to do or receive something (often + for) regimen – n. a plan or set of rules about food, exercise, etc., to make someone become or stay healthy (often + of) abandon – v. to stop doing or having (something); to give up (doing something) completely fairly – adv.  to some degree or extent but not very or extremely; to a reasonable or moderate extent toxic – adj. containing poisonous substances side effect – n. an often harmful and unwanted effect of a drug or chemical that occurs along with the desired effect

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1TPmi3b
via IFTTT

Everyday Grammar: Should & Shall

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1X6kDds
via IFTTT

Knife Cuts on Mastodon Bone Reveal Earlier Humans

Scientists diving in a Florida river found bones and tools that could change the history of humans in the Americas. These new items -- called artifacts -- could mean humans lived in the Americas more than a thousand years earlier than was known before. Researchers from several universities worked together and published their findings in the journal Science Advances. The items were found in the underwater archeological site called Page-Ladsen. Long ago it was a watering hole where people and long-extinct animals lived. Today it is part of the Aucilla River in Florida. It has provided scientists with human and animal artifacts for more than 50 years. Researchers used carbon dating -- a scientific method -- to find out the age of the objects. Previous carbon-dated items brought up from the waters were between 11,000 and 13,000 years old. But a newer find?  It is more than 14,000 years old. Jessi Halligan teaches anthropology at Florida State University. She says the older artifacts change the way researchers will study human history in the Americas. She says these buried items were found in an untouched part of the river. That means there is no question about their age. “So we’ve got to reexamine everything we thought we knew, so it’s kind of opened up this whole new world of first Americans studies.” Halligan says they found a cutting tool — a stone knife — buried underwater. The stone was formed into a tool that only a human could make. This made the researchers take a second look at a mastodon bone brought up from the same water hole in the river. It had been cut. Mastodons were large ancient animals that once lived on Earth, but died off thousands of years ago. Halligan says there was “no way that the marks on it were made by a natural process.” In other words, those marks on the mastodon bone? “They were made by people,” she says, people who used tools to kill and cut up the animal. “When we went back, what we found was a stone tool that could not have been made by nature, that was definitely cultural, that dated to 14,550 years ago.” But who were these people who made the tool and killed and ate the mastodon? Until this discovery, researchers thought the first Americans were a group they call “Clovis” hunters.  They were a prehistoric Indian culture thought to be the most ancient people in North America. They came to North America from Asia when glaciers melted, and they could walk across land that formed a bridge between the continents. Now, science puts this newly found Florida tool at more than a thousand years before the Clovis hunters. Halligan says it is significant, or important, that the tool is made by human hands. “Now that’s significant, A) because the site shows people were definitely here before Clovis, more, about 1,500 years before Clovis, but B) because it shows that people had to have come to the Americas by a different route than we had accepted. Because, the ice-free corridor that supposedly people came from by land through Canada, was not open 'til 14,000 years ago.” There had been some evidence that humans were in the area earlier than the Clovis hunters. But until now, nothing had been proven because so few older remains had been found. Scientists said it is possible changing sea levels could be the reason more evidence had not been found about these ancient Americans before now. Halligan told reporters that 14,000 years ago, sea levels were 100 meters lower than today -- because of glaciers. Over time those large areas of ice melted. And the evidence of the ancient humans in the Americas was lost. Evidence ended up buried and underwater -- making it much harder to find. The evidence also shows a much different world than the one today. There were camels and mastodons and giant armadillo-like animals living there. But they all died, or went extinct, 10,000 or 11,000 years ago. One other interesting discovery — the researchers think they found bones from dogs. Even back then, they were likely to have been trained to help humans. Now it will be the job of researchers to try to find new artifacts. I’m Anne Ball.   Kevin Enochs reported on this story for VOANews.com. Anne Ball wrote this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit us on our Facebook page.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   artifact – n. a simple object made by people in the past archeological – adj. having to do with the science of past human life and activities by studying the bones, tools, etc. of ancient people extinct – adj. no longer existing prehistoric – adj. relating to the time before people could write glacier – n. a very large area of ice that moves slowly down a slope or valley or over a wide area of land armadillo - n. an animal with a hard shell covering its body

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1NX6Pi8
via IFTTT